Decatur to expand its planning area

Faced with the possibility of new development, Decatur’s planning and zoning commission made plans to expand the town’s planning area and become more active as a committee. The commission voted on Thursday to start the process of expanding the portion of Decatur’s planning area outside the city limits. The commission’s recommendation will go before the city council at its next meeting. If the recommendation is passed, the council will, in turn, request the county planning commission to expand the planning area. Decatur can request to expand its planning area out to five miles from the city limits, Mayor Charles Linam said.